Get Glowing, Younger Looking Skin

Restore your youthful glow with these simple tips

Photo by: J Muckle/Studio D

With these three simple tips to turn back the clock, everyone can have younger looking skin in no time.

Wear sunscreen  every day

Although your tanning days may be long past, incidental UV exposure (running out to get the mail, walking from the car to your office) still etches itself on your skin. Unfortunately, sun damage on your face and body begins to show up as brown spots, redness, blotchiness, or even sallowness as early as in your 30s, says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, NY. Sun exposure, no surprise, is the top culprit behind uneven skin tone, no matter what your ethnic background. Over time, UV rays thin the skin and dilate superficial blood vessels; UV exposure throws dark-pigmentproducing cells into overdrive, and the melanin they produce can cluster into brown spots, creating a mottled or pebbled appearance in Caucasian and Asian complexions. In Hispanic, African-American, and East Asian skin, more baseline melanin protects against superficial sun damage, but may give rise to light spots or blotchiness.

Just like brushing your teeth, applying sunscreen every morning should be an automatic habit, even when you wont be outside much. UVA rays can penetrate windshield and window glass and can beam through clouds and fog. Whether you choose a facial moisturizer with SPF or a regular sunscreen, make it your first layer of the day. When the sun-protection factor of any product is determined, its tested by application of the product directly to the skin, not over other skin care products and makeup. The most common mistake I see among my patients is putting on moisturizer before sunscreen, says New York City dermatologist Neal Schultz, M.D.

The Bottom Line: No matter what your skin type, use sunscreen habitually and on a daily basisit protects cells from additional damage while giving skin a chance to make visible repairs on previously damaged cells.

Address any rednessYou see patchy splotches in the mirror, but do you know what causes them? Consult your dermatologist to pinpoint the culprit. Certain dermatologic conditions, such as rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis, can cause facial redness in lighter skin. In more pigmented complexions, redness actually appears as darker spots. Both topical and laser treatments can help diminish redness and dark spots.

The Bottom Line: Theres no need to suffer in silence (or ignorance) - be sure you always understand where any skin discolorations come from, so you can best handle it.

Use nighttime treatmentsDoctors recommend treating skin in the evening, when its free of sun-protection products and treatments can be in contact with your skin for an uninterrupted block of time. Try smoothing on a serum; these concentrated blends of vitamins, peptides, antioxidants, and botanicals are formulated to avert or minimize uneven tone as well as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

The Bottom Line: Your skin benefits most when it has direct contact with the treatment product, so be sure to wash the days grime off before applying.

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